Choose another country or region to see content specific to your location. Thank you!
Patients & Caregivers Healthcare Providers

VNS Therapy™ is Safe for Children

VNS Therapy™ is an add-on treatment designed for people with drug-resistant epilepsy whose epileptic disorder is dominated by partial or generalized seizures. 

Child with VNS Therapy blowing bubbles

Proven as Safe and Effective for Children

More than 35,000 children worldwide have been treated with VNS Therapy™

VNS Therapy has been shown to safely help children with drug-resistant epilepsy gain control over seizures, with 63% of children having fewer seizures*.

*Based on a group of 83 patients following 24 months of VNS Therapy, with no anti-seizure medication changes. 

VNS Therapy™ Benefits

In addition to fewer seizures, many children with VNS Therapy also experience:
less severe seizures

Less severe seizures
shorter seizures

Shorter seizures
better recovery after seizures

Better recovery after seizures
Katya's Mum

"Life has changed hugely - not just for Katya, but for the whole family."

Katya's Mum
Your child's development can be affected by poorly controlled seizures. VNS Therapy™ helps guard against this.

Developmental Improvements

In addition to its seizure-reducing effects, VNS Therapy has been shown to improve the following development outcomes:
Alertness

Alertness
Energy

Energy
Mood

Mood
Memory

Memory

What do patients think about VNS Therapy™?

View patient testimonials
For children and those with special needs with drug-resistant epilepsy

VNS Therapy™ Guide

Our VNS Therapy Guide was written for children to help explain:

  • What is VNS Therapy?
  • How can it help me?
  • What do I need to do to get VNS Therapy?
  • What happens after the procedure?
  • What to expect living with VNS Therapy?
Download VNS Therapy™ Guide for Children

Could VNS Therapy™ be right for your child?

If your child has tried two or more anti-seizure medications yet continue to have uncontrolled seizures, it's time to question their epilepsy seizure treatment. Talk to your doctor about drug-resistant epilepsy so alternative treatment options can be explored.

Take our assessment to find out if VNS Therapy™ could be right for your child

VNS Therapy™ Safety Profile

The most common side effects of VNS Therapy™ include:

Hoarseness
Shortness of breath
Sore throat
Coughing

These side effects generally only occur during stimulation and usually decrease over time. The most common side effect of the surgical procedure is infection.

Children under 12 may have a greater risk of infection than those 12 years of age and older and may be more likely to experience lead damage due to higher activity levels and the potential to manipulate the lead. Talk to your physician about the best ways to avoid these complications and about warnings, precautions, side effects, and hazards. Ask about risks that you should know about as well as any other issues that might be appropriate to discuss, such as status epilepticus and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

You can find more safety information here.

 References are available upon request.

The intended audience for this website is visitors in the United Kingdom. VNS Therapy™ for Drug Resistant Epilepsy is not available in all countries, please talk to your doctor.
 

© 2024 LivaNova PLC. All Rights Reserved.

Top

Choose a country

Australia Flag
Australia
 Brazil Flag
Brazil
 Canada Flag
Canada
 Colombia Flag
Colombia
 Germany Flag
Germany
 Italy Flag
Italy
 Netherlands Flag
Netherlands
 Portugal Flag
Portugal
 Spain Flag
Spain
 Sweden Flag
Sweden
Japan
 United Kingdom Flag
United Kingdom
 United States Flag
United States
To see the other countries, please click here.